hardinparamedic:In other news, submitter continues the proud American tradition of treating homeless people as idiotic cretins who surprise people when they demonstrate that they are actually human beings.

Was probably also surprised when overweight, not considered attractive people can sing well.

hardinparamedic:In other news, submitter continues the proud American tradition of treating homeless people as idiotic cretins who surprise people when they demonstrate that they are actually human beings.

No, but they have other things to deal with that makes schooling more difficult, so it is a nice story when they can overcome the challenges.

I_Am_Weasel:hardinparamedic: In other news, submitter continues the proud American tradition of treating homeless people as idiotic cretins who surprise people when they demonstrate that they are actually human beings.

No, but they have other things to deal with that makes schooling more difficult, so it is a nice story when they can overcome the challenges.

Yea I guess being able to quailify for a school district you don't have a home in might be tough./DRTFA//I don't click oppossing veiw links/Don't really know why

hardinparamedic:In other news, submitter continues the proud American tradition of treating homeless people as idiotic cretins who surprise people when they demonstrate that they are actually human beings.

Not to mention the fact that he seems to think anything related to high school is somehow an "accomplishment".

"In other news, submitter continues the proud American tradition of treating homeless people as idiotic cretins who surprise people when they demonstrate that they are actually human beings."

I didn't take it as subby is calling homeless people idiots. I take it as a homeless girl not only did well in school despite her hard circumstances, but she did the best she could. I think it's a noteworthy story because she has it a lot rougher than people who have a stable environment but still do poorly in school.

hasty ambush:Well it looks like her and her sister will break free of the multi-generational dependency class created by the Federal Welfare system-good for them.

Yeah, I'm sure they were thrilled with welfare. It's why everyone loves welfare! So, your statement contradicts your other view that people just love living on welfare, and live well and happily on welfare. (being that you're a cretinous rightwinger, your views are obvious!)

/Meanwhile, its pretty sad when its newsworthy that someone of less economic means manages to out-do her more financially stable peers at the high school level//America, as long as 'socialism' is a swear word; your culture will not evolve

hardinparamedic:In other news, submitter continues the proud American tradition of treating homeless people as idiotic cretins who surprise people when they demonstrate that they are actually human beings.

Has your chemical diet changed recently? You used to make sense.

Becoming valedictorian while lacking a stable home is an amazing feat whether you're smart or not. Unless, of course, your classmates were really dumb overall.

hardinparamedic:In other news, submitter continues the proud American tradition of treating homeless people as idiotic cretins who surprise people when they demonstrate that they are actually human beings.

I've been technically homeless. I had a place to sleep but I didn't know how long the situation would last.

It's incredibly difficult to hunker down and do work in that kind of situation. I was just studying for the damn GREs, and even as someone who generally studies better in noisy environments (damn tinnitus) and late at night (damn insomnia) I got lucky that I had a place where I was welcome to grab a corner on the porch, plug in my laptop (not everyone has one) and get sh-t done. I got doubly lucky that someone shared the incredibly expensive online test prep their parents paid for with me - I'm pretty damn good at taking tests, but there's a huge difference between memorizing vocab words and looking over old questions and being able to take practice versions of a test on a computer.

It's mentally draining when you don't know for sure where you're sleeping at night, if you don't have a secure place to keep things, if you don't have a home to come home to, if you're not sure where your next meal is going to come from.

So F--KING KUDOS to this girl for rising above all that crap and still being the best of the best in her school. That's f--king dedication that deserves to be recognized.

It's not surprising that she's a human being who can accomplish something; it's impressive that she could accomplish something while being

One of five children, her family only had apartments for short periods of time. Most of the time they lived in shelters or in the family's car.

BarkingUnicorn:hardinparamedic: In other news, submitter continues the proud American tradition of treating homeless people as idiotic cretins who surprise people when they demonstrate that they are actually human beings.

Has your chemical diet changed recently? You used to make sense.

Becoming valedictorian while lacking a stable home is an amazing feat whether you're smart or not. Unless, of course, your classmates were really dumb overall.

BarkingUnicorn:hardinparamedic: In other news, submitter continues the proud American tradition of treating homeless people as idiotic cretins who surprise people when they demonstrate that they are actually human beings.

Has your chemical diet changed recently? You used to make sense.

Becoming valedictorian while lacking a stable home is an amazing feat whether you're smart or not. Unless, of course, your classmates were really dumb overall.

/Meanwhile, its pretty sad when its newsworthy that someone of less economic means manages to out-do her more financially stable peers at the high school level//America, as long as 'socialism' is a swear word; your culture will not evolve

I take offense. America has devolved quite markedly, thank you very much.

WhippingBoy:Wasn't everyone on Fark the valedictorian of their school?

My school had everybody who had above a 4.0 (extra points for AP blah blah) compete in an essay contest for the title of valedictorian proper. I didn't give a sh-t, but my mom did, so I wrote an incredibly sarcastic and snarky essay I figured would lose. Apparently I got to the final round because the teachers who were entertained by it kept rallying for me to get the win.

So nope. No sweat off my back, I already had my college acceptances back anyway.

/how bootsrappy//we need more stories about the ones who don't make it

Everybody gets help, from a teacher believing in you, to your parents making sure you get somewhere in life instead of just telling you can be anything you want and expecting you to figure it all out yourself. To getting a job because you know somebody who knows somebody, etc. Which btw, is still the best way to get a job. IE: It not being what you know, but who you know.

megarian:BarkingUnicorn: hardinparamedic: In other news, submitter continues the proud American tradition of treating homeless people as idiotic cretins who surprise people when they demonstrate that they are actually human beings.

Has your chemical diet changed recently? You used to make sense.

Becoming valedictorian while lacking a stable home is an amazing feat whether you're smart or not. Unless, of course, your classmates were really dumb overall.

BarkingUnicorn:Has your chemical diet changed recently? You used to make sense.

Becoming valedictorian while lacking a stable home is an amazing feat whether you're smart or not. Unless, of course, your classmates were really dumb overall.

I was referring to the idea that people act suprised that a homeless kid can do this. In reality, most homeless are quite intelligent, and are not that way by choice - with the exception of a population of the mentally ill. Thank the economy crash for that.

The general stereotype of the homeless as alcohol and drug addicted bums in the United States is what I was referring to.

hardinparamedic:BarkingUnicorn: Has your chemical diet changed recently? You used to make sense.

Becoming valedictorian while lacking a stable home is an amazing feat whether you're smart or not. Unless, of course, your classmates were really dumb overall.

I was referring to the idea that people act suprised that a homeless kid can do this. In reality, most homeless are quite intelligent, and are not that way by choice - with the exception of a population of the mentally ill. Thank the economy crash for that.

The general stereotype of the homeless as alcohol and drug addicted bums in the United States is what I was referring to.

WhippingBoy:hardinparamedic: BarkingUnicorn: Has your chemical diet changed recently? You used to make sense.

Becoming valedictorian while lacking a stable home is an amazing feat whether you're smart or not. Unless, of course, your classmates were really dumb overall.

I was referring to the idea that people act suprised that a homeless kid can do this. In reality, most homeless are quite intelligent, and are not that way by choice - with the exception of a population of the mentally ill. Thank the economy crash for that.

The general stereotype of the homeless as alcohol and drug addicted bums in the United States is what I was referring to.

hardinparamedic:The general stereotype of the homeless as alcohol and drug addicted bums in the United States is what I was referring to.

Because that's what one thinks of when you hear "17 year old homeless girl"? Come on now. Maybe you think that of their parents if you're a knee jerk asshole, but even "they probably did something to deserve it" assholes-who-can't-or-won't-grasp-there-but-for-the-grace-of-God-go-I usually have an exception in their heart for kids.

StreetlightInTheGhetto:Because that's what one thinks of when you hear "17 year old homeless girl"? Come on now. Maybe you think that of their parents if you're a knee jerk asshole, but even "they probably did something to deserve it" assholes-who-can't-or-won't-grasp-there-but-for-the-grace-of-God-go-I usually have an exception in their heart for kids.

StreetlightInTheGhetto:hardinparamedic: The general stereotype of the homeless as alcohol and drug addicted bums in the United States is what I was referring to.

Because that's what one thinks of when you hear "17 year old homeless girl"? Come on now. Maybe you think that of their parents if you're a knee jerk asshole, but even "they probably did something to deserve it" assholes-who-can't-or-won't-grasp-there-but-for-the-grace-of-God-go-I usually have an exception in their heart for kids.

StreetlightInTheGhetto:hardinparamedic: In other news, submitter continues the proud American tradition of treating homeless people as idiotic cretins who surprise people when they demonstrate that they are actually human beings.

I've been technically homeless. I had a place to sleep but I didn't know how long the situation would last.

It's incredibly difficult to hunker down and do work in that kind of situation. I was just studying for the damn GREs, and even as someone who generally studies better in noisy environments (damn tinnitus) and late at night (damn insomnia) I got lucky that I had a place where I was welcome to grab a corner on the porch, plug in my laptop (not everyone has one) and get sh-t done. I got doubly lucky that someone shared the incredibly expensive online test prep their parents paid for with me - I'm pretty damn good at taking tests, but there's a huge difference between memorizing vocab words and looking over old questions and being able to take practice versions of a test on a computer.

It's mentally draining when you don't know for sure where you're sleeping at night, if you don't have a secure place to keep things, if you don't have a home to come home to, if you're not sure where your next meal is going to come from.

So F--KING KUDOS to this girl for rising above all that crap and still being the best of the best in her school. That's f--king dedication that deserves to be recognized.

Seconded!!

/Congratulations on getting past your own rough time and on your accomplishments!

My school had everybody who had above a 4.0 (extra points for AP blah blah) compete in an essay contest for the title of valedictorian proper. I didn't give a sh-t, but my mom did, so I wrote an incredibly sarcastic and snarky essay I figured would lose. Apparently I got to the final round because the teachers who were entertained by it kept rallying for me to get the win.

So nope. No sweat off my back, I already had my college acceptances back anyway.